International Court of Justice: Stop Offensive in Rafah
The Hague also orders the opening of a border crossing to facilitate access for humanitarian aid and commissions of inquiry
The long-awaited ICJ ruling, ordering Israel to halt its offensive on Rafah in Gaza, has come.
“The State of Israel, in accordance with its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, as well as in view of the deteriorating living conditions of the civilian population in Rafah province: immediately cease the military offensive and any other action in Rafah province that may create living conditions for the population (…) that may lead to their physical destruction, total or partial.”
The Court, with 13 votes in favor and two against, also decided to keep the Rafah crossing open for the unimpeded delivery of much-needed and humanitarian assistance.
Added to this is the requirement to guarantee unhindered and safe access to Gaza “for any commission of inquiry, fact-finding mission, or other investigative body authorized by the competent organs of the United Nations to investigate allegations of genocide.”
Hamas’s response was immediate, explaining on Telegram that “it’s not enough. We call on the international community and the UN to put pressure on the occupiers to immediately force them to implement the Resolution and to start serious and real application of all United Nations resolutions that will force the Zionist occupation army to stop its genocidal war.”
Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s response was very blunt: “The answer to the anti-Semitic court ruling should be to occupy Rafah and increase military pressure on Hamas until we win.” Meanwhile, Benjamin Netanyahu summoned his ministers to discuss the situation.